Hunger in the country is a big problem

October 15, 2018

The iconic Big Banana on Australia’s east coast has been shrouded in black in an impudent act aimed at drawing attention to our country’s big hunger problem.

Foodbank has taken this extraordinary step to mark the release of its annual Foodbank Hunger Report which reveals that more and more everyday Australians, particularly in rural and regional areas, are going hungry.

“Our country loves its big food icons – the Big Pineapple, the Big Prawn, the Big Lobster, but we have a big food problem that needs to be addressed – hunger in the country”. Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, said today. “Our 2018 Foodbank Hunger Report confirms that 1.5 million Australians in regional and remote areas have experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months which makes country dwellers a third (33%) more likely to be hungry than their city counterparts. This is even before the full effects of the current drought are factored in.”

The report exposes that, overall, 4 million Australians (18% of the population) have experienced some form of food insecurity in the past 12 months with 76% of these regularly eating less than they need because they lack the money or resources to obtain food.

“Half of all our charity agencies report an increase in the number of people seeking much needed food assistance, and only 36% of charities say they are meeting the full needs of people they assist.

“Food insecurity is a growing problem which is affecting every day Australians both in the cities and in the bush. We are doing our very best to address this problem, but we need support from our government and our community to help these vulnerable Aussies in need.”

The public can help Foodbank tackle this big problem by joining the growing movement on social media using the hashtags #BigProblem and #ZeroHunger, donating at foodbank.org.au or asking their local Federal Member of Parliament what they are doing to address food insecurity in Australia.

-ENDS-

Interview opportunities:

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey available for interview pre-record or live Sunday – Monday in Sydney or via phone for the remainder of the week.

Foodbank State and Territory CEOs available for interview on state specific statistics in the report.

·More than 4 million Australians have experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months
·Foodbank provides 710,000 Australians with food assistance every month
·A low income is the most common reason why Australians are unable to afford food
·Half of all charities report an increase in the number of people seeking food relief
·1.5 million Australians in regional and remote areas have experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months
·Regional and remote Australians are 33% more likely to experience food insecurity than their city cousins

Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey will be at Parliament House Tuesday 16th – Thursday 18th October conducting political briefings on the 2018 Foodbank Hunger Report and will be available for comment throughout.